Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
514. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects parents of children availing of the concessionary tickets under the school transport scheme will be informed of their success or failure to secure a seat for the forthcoming academic year. [33294/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
Currently over 116,000 children, including over 12,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported in over 4,500 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres annually at a total cost of almost €190 million in 2017.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Children are generally eligible for school transport if they satisfy the distance criteria and are attending their nearest school.
Children who are not eligible for school transport may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only which is subject to a number of conditions which are detailed in the scheme.
Seats for concessionary applicants are allocated after all eligible children have been accommodated on school transport services. This exercise normally takes place after the closing date for receipt of payments which is 27th July 2018. Where seats are limited a random selection process is used.
The terms of the School Transport Scheme are applied equitably on a national basis.
